An octogenarian Turkish woman dedicated most of her life to orphans in the Kasımpaşa neighborhood of Istanbul's Beyoğlu district.
Oya Kayacık, who has been caring for orphans in Kasımpaşa Children's Houses Site for 60 years, shared her long journey with Anadolu Agency.
Kayacık never got married or had children; she only chased her passion for helping deprived children.
She said she lost track of time while taking care of the children's needs all those years.
"I have considered it [Children's Houses Site] my home. When you stay in any place for a lot of years, it becomes like your own," she said.
Kayacık said when she came to the orphanage to work, nobody believed that she would stay this long.
"I do not know how it happened... I can't think of anything else other than staying here," she added.
Kayacık said she never looked at the children as an administrator or teacher.
"I was one of them. I used to eat and play with them," she added.
She said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also spent most of his life in Kasımpaşa.
"Our president also knows about my work," she said.
Kayacık said Erdoğan loves children and loving children was part of the spirit of the Kasımpaşa neighborhood.
"I thank him very much. He helped us extensively," she added.
